Hartford, CT, April 19, 2014 – Dov Grumet-Morris had his first shutout of the season Saturday night at the XL Center, stopping 23 shots as the Hartford Wolf Pack finished their season with a 2-0 win over the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

Ryan Bourque’s first-period power-play goal was the only offense the Wolf Pack would need, and T.J. Hensick added an empty-net goal with 32.2 seconds left in the game.  Danny Syvret assisted on both goals.  Kevin Poulin made 36 saves in the Bridgeport net.

The victory was the Wolf Pack’s ninth in the last ten games, and Hartford finished 18-6-1-0 in the last 25 games of the year, for a final record of 37-32-1-6 for 81 points.  The shutout was Hartford’s fourth in the last ten games, after the team went without one in the first 66 games of the year.

“We kept fighting right until the end,” the Wolf Pack’s Dylan McIlrath said.  “Unfortunately we got the news (last Friday) in St. John’s that we were out of it (playoff contention), but I liked how we came together as a group and played with a lot of pride. It was good to see.”

Bourque’s 21^st goal of the season, the game-winner, came on the game’s first power play, with Bridgeport’s Justin Johnson in the penalty box for roughing.

Marek Hrivik set Syvret up for a shot from the middle of the blue line, and Bourque deflected the blast past Poulin at 6:35.

That was it for the offense until the final minute of the game, despite the Wolf Pack outshooting the Sound Tigers 11-6 in the second period and 17-9 in the third.

Bridgeport pulled Poulin for a sixth attacker with just over 1:30 remaining in the third, but never seriously threatened, and Hensick was able to ice the game at 19:27.

Dylan McIlrath cleared the puck out of the corner to Grumet-Morris’ right, and it deflected off of a Sound Tiger into the Bridgeport end.  Hensick beat a Sound Tiger defender to the loose puck along the right-wing boards, and bounced it into the empty cage.

Season tickets for the Wolf Pack’s 2014-15 AHL season are on sale now.  In addition to getting the best deal on Wolf Pack seats, full season-ticket subscribers will be part of the Pack’s new season ticket-holder “Mug Club”, whose members can enjoy $2 beers and $4 sodas at every Wolf Pack home game.  Call 855-764-6451 now to get placed in seats, or visit www.hartfordwolfpack.com for more information.

Bridgeport Sound Tigers 0 at Hartford Wolf Pack 2
Saturday, April 19, 2014 – XL Center

Bridgeport 0 0 0 – 0
Hartford 1 0 1 – 2

1st Period-1, Hartford, Bourque 21 (Syvret, Hrivik), 6:35 (PP). Penalties-Johnson Bri (roughing), 6:20.

2nd Period- No Scoring. Penalties-Bourque Hfd (hooking), 1:50; Bruton Bri (fighting), 15:54; McIlrath Hfd (fighting), 15:54; Johnson Hfd (interference), 16:55.

3rd Period-2, Hartford, Hensick 11 (McIlrath, Syvret), 19:27 (EN). Penalties-Allen Hfd (tripping), 7:26; Poulin Bri (delay of game), 10:25.

Shots on Goal-Bridgeport 8-6-9-23. Hartford 10-11-17-38.
Power Play Opportunities-Bridgeport 0 / 3; Hartford 1 / 2.
Goalies-Bridgeport, Poulin 2-12-1 (37 shots-36 saves). Hartford, Grumet-Morris 17-15-5 (23 shots-23 saves).
A-5,272
Referees-David Banfield (77).
Linesmen-Jim Briggs (83), Brent Colby (7).

Hartford, CT, April 18, 2014 – David LeNeveu made 37 saves Friday night at the XL Center, leading the Hartford Wolf Pack to their eighth victory in nine games, a 2-1 win over the Northeast Division-champion Springfield Falcons.

Oscar Lindberg’s third-period power-play goal was the game-winner for the Wolf Pack (36-32-1-6, 79 pts.), who were outshot 38-20 in the game, and Danny Kristo also scored.  Carter Camper had the Falcons’ only goal of the game, and Mike McKenna made 18 saves.

“I think it’s been encouraging to see some of the improvement and the growth, both as individuals and as a team,” Wolf Pack coach Ken Gernander said of the Wolf Pack’s recent run. “I think you can start by giving credit to our veterans, because they have a lot to say in regards to the temperament of the (locker) room and how things are going to unfold.

“If you look at our record over the last twenty-five or thirty games, if you’re talking about developing guys and developing a winning atmosphere, we’ve come a long way in the span of a season.”

Friday’s win was the Wolf Pack’s fifth in the last six games in the season series with the Falcons, and Hartford is now 17-6-1-0 in 24 games since February 22.

Kristo, the Wolf Pack’s leading goal-scorer, netted his 25^th of the year 4:30 into the game for the only scoring of the first two periods.

Ryan Bourque tipped a Dylan McIlrath try from the right point on goal, and McKenna made the save, but could not control the rebound.  Kristo, stationed to McKenna’s left, jammed the loose puck into the net.

Springfield dominated the second period territorially, outshooting the Wolf Pack 17-5, but could not get anything past LeNeveu until the 58-second mark of the third period, when Camper finally got the Falcons on the scoreboard.

Sean Collins fed the puck to the high slot to former Connecticut Whale Tim Erixon, who deflected it to Camper on the right side.  Camper moved to just inside the faceoff dot and fired a shot past LeNeveu’s stick side to tie the game.

The Wolf Pack responded with the deciding goal less than four minutes later, though, at 4:42, with Cody Bass in the penalty box for cross-checking.

Danny Syvret played the puck cross-ice from the right-wing circle to T.J. Hensick along the boards.  Hensick’s centering feed was partially blocked, but it carried through to Lindberg in front of the goal.  McKenna got a piece of Lindberg’s quick shot but could not keep it out of the net, and Lindberg’s 18^th goal of the season put the Wolf Pack on top to stay.

Springfield’s best chance the rest of the way came with about 2:30 remaining in the third, when Lukas put a shot off the goalpost to LeNeveu’s right after getting a step on the Wolf Pack defense.

The Wolf Pack bring down the curtain on the 2013-14 season Saturday night at the XL Center, hosting the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in a 7:00 PM game.  It’s Fan Appreciation Night, with numerous great prizes to be given away at random, including a 32-inch HD TV, New York Ranger and Wolf Pack autographed items, a tailgating Weber grill and Rita’s Italian Ice.  Tickets are on sale now at the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499.  Wolf Pack tickets start as low as $12 for youth 12 years old or younger.  To speak with a representative about season or group tickets, call (855) 762-6451.

Springfield Falcons 1 at Hartford Wolf Pack 2
Friday, April 18, 2014 – XL Center

Springfield 0 0 1 – 1
Hartford 1 0 1 – 2

1st Period-1, Hartford, Kristo 25 (Bourque, McIlrath), 4:30. Penalties-Erixon Spr (slashing), 1:34; Collins Spr (high-sticking), 8:05; Bass Spr (high-sticking), 9:54; Powe Hfd (hooking), 14:27; Thompson Spr (tripping), 18:24.

2nd Period- No Scoring. Penalties-Hughes Hfd (boarding), 7:53; Vaive Hfd (holding), 15:39.

3rd Period-2, Springfield, Camper 12 (Erixon, Collins), 0:58. 3, Hartford, Lindberg 18 (Hensick, Syvret), 4:42 (PP). Penalties-Bass Spr (cross-checking), 4:22; O’Donnell Hfd (closing hand on puck), 12:55.

Shots on Goal-Springfield 9-17-12-38. Hartford 6-5-9-20.
Power Play Opportunities-Springfield 0 / 4; Hartford 1 / 5.
Goalies-Springfield, McKenna 22-9-1 (20 shots-18 saves). Hartford, LeNeveu 12-9-0 (38 shots-37 saves).
A-3,928
Referees-Jarrod Ragusin (54), Tim Mayer (19).
Linesmen-Luke Galvin (2), Mike Baker (11).